Historians launching new society for Heritage Week

North Bay Nipissing News

WEST NIPISSING – A new historical society will be forming Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Sturgeon River House Museum local author-historian Wayne LeBelle announced today. "This society will be focused on the English history of West Nipissing since the mid-1800s," he said. Heritage Week is observed in Ontario Feb. 20-26.

Published author and Professor of History at Nipissing University, Francoise Noel, will be guest speaker at this meeting that begins at 1:30 p.m. Her research areas have evolved from settlement in the Eastern Townships and seigneurial administration in the Upper Richelieu Valley to family life in 19th century Quebec and Ontario and family and community history in Northeastern Ontario.

Jean Johnson of Kipling, a well-known local historian, and LeBelle have been working on this event for several years, as they believe there is a need for an English society in West Nipissing. Mrs. Johnson is the keeper of the Tweedsmuir Kipling History Book and the collection of the Kipling Branch of the Federated Women's Institute of Ontario Ladies Institute papers and photographs.
"Over two decades of research and publishing books I have met hundreds of local history buffs who collect and enjoy their local history. I have lived within the two solitudes, both French and English, for most of my life. Hopefully, Anglophones will consider getting on board to form an executive for a society. It is time to start gathering and sharing the English stories before they fade away. I have personally gathered some English historical documents and photographs in an archive at the Museum but there is much that needs to be researched and published," LeBelle said. "I have found the museum to be very supportive in all things historic."
LeBelle adds that he believes the partnership with Johnson will prove invaluable.
“Often in the past it was upper and middle class women who took on local histories and collected legends, poems, sketches and even clothing and tools, drove the first local English Canadian historical societies,” said LeBelle.
During the 1920s and 1930s Women's Institutes (WI) supported local groups to study "Historical Research and Community Events." By the 1940s, Lady Tweedsmuir, wife of Governor General Lord Tweedsmuir, instituted the Tweedsmuir Cup – a prize given to the club that submitted the best local history. Thousands of histories were produced by Homemakers and WI clubs across Canada. Later Lady Tweedsmuir proposed all Branches of the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario begin Village History Books to be known as Tweedsmuir History books – hence Tweedsmuir History of Kipling.
For more information contact Jean Johnson at 705-594-2513 or Wayne LeBelle at wayne_lebelle@xplornet.ca or 705-758-9669.